Gun-pointing and automatic gun-discharging mechanism



G. W. HINTON.

GUN POINTING AND AUTOMATIC GUN DISCHARGING MECHANISM, COMBINED.

lill. l

-IsI

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I9Il.

Patented July 8, 1919.

2 SHtETS-SHEET I.

Gv. w. HlNoN. GUN POINTING AND AUTOMATIC GUN DISCHARGNG MECHANISM, COMBINED.

- APPLicAjloN mm Mln/24.1911. 1,309,091

mmm July s, 1919. 2 SHI-.ETS-SHEET 2.

' T0 all whom t may concer/gz:

UNITED STAWENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HINTON', 0F ST. JOSEPH, MISSORI, .ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-'LHIRID- T0 EDWIN :RENAUD AND ONE-THIRD T0 ROBERT R. POTEET, BOTH OF ST. JOSEPH., MISSOURI.

' GUN-POINTIN G AN AUTOMATIC' GUN-DISCHARQING MECHANISM, COMBINED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July s, 1919.

Animatie-n meanayaa 1917. serial No. 170,612.

Be it known that I, vGroen W. Hm'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and 5 State of Missouri, `have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Pointing' and Automatic Gun-Discharging Mechanisms, Combined, o f which the following is a specification, reference b'eing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in gun pointing and discharging mechanisms,

combined, the objects of which are, first;

to provide a mechanism of this class, by the use of which an explosive missile can be downwardly projected froman aeroplane, in Hight, onto any desired visible object, for destroying the latter, and be aimed and projected with ahigh degree of accuracy, sec'- ond; to so construct and arrange the parts of'a mechanism of this class, that the duties of the gun pointer shall be extremely simple, and reduced to the minimum in number, and 'be performed while the gun pointeris kept ina comfortable position; third; to provide means whereby both the missiles and the energy by which they are projected, can be conserved for accurate and economical use, :and the. gun pointer shall not be subjected to more danger than is experienced by an ordinary aviator, fourth; to so construct the mechanism, that it shall yield to all of the oscillations of an 'aeroplane in flight, thereby avoiding the exertion of undue strain upon the parts of the aeroplane. I attain these 'objects by the mechanism illustrated. in the accompanying drawmgs,

; in which :f-

Figure 1 is a? reduced side elevation of 'the mechanism and of a portion of a hydroaero.- plane, certain parts being omitted.' Fig. 2 is a top plan'othe gun platform and of the parts mounted thereon; together with certain portions of an aeroplane frame.

Fig. 3` is a transverse section in detail, of theA sto and waste cock, showing the parts 1n position for permitting passage of air therethrough. 4 is asimilar section of the parts seen in Fig.3, showing the parts in position for stopping passage of air through said cot-k and for exhausting air from the gun ports. and p assa Fi 5 is a transverse section in` detai oftheower end por-I tion of thttleswpe sight, looking down- Vpressure upon the stem 19 of ward. Fig. 6 ist. Side elevation in# detail,

of the sighting mechanism, embodying. a vertical sectionl of a portion of the gyroscope: Fig. 7 is a front view in detail of the sighting mechanism and the gun, certain parts of the gun and platform being' 'brokenawa Fig. 8 is a vertical section in detail, `o one of the pneumaticsteering valves. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section in detail of the pneumatic steering mechanism. Fig. 10 is'a vertical sectionof one of the various other forms of guns that may be used. Fig. 11 isa vertical section in detail, of the notched wheel and its adjusting mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the gun plat form 1 is secured on the inner 'gimbal ring 2, which latter is mounted for lateral oscillation in the outer gimbal ring 3, which 1s mounted for longitudinal oscillation in foundation ring 4. l Said foundation ring isn rigidly secured on the frame 5, of an ordinary hydroaeroplane 6, which latter may be. 'of any type suitable for either mar'1ne Vor land service, and for brevity, will hereafter be termed .an aeroplane. Springs 5 "are secured lto said frame with their free end portions extending beneath said gimbal rings, for limiting their oscillations. Said aeroplaneis provided with *the `rudvder '1, for its lateral guidance. Said rudder is vsecured on the oscillatably mounted rudder post 7', which latter is provided with rudder arm'7. Thefree' en'd of said arm is engagedwith piston rod 8, which has pistons 9 and 10 securedI on its respective ends Said pistons are slidably mounted in cylinders Y and 12 are respectively connected with air valve cylinders i3 and 14, (see Fig. 1,)` by' hose 11 and 12'. Said ail-'valve cyhnders are connected with 'valve chamber 15,`l

through their valves 16, (see Fig. 8), but one of which is shown. Said valve is opened by piston 17, 'which latter is adapted to be manually moveddownward by pressure 4upon knob' 159, said knob being 'adapted to be raised by spring 19, which is mounted on the piston stem 19', which latter connects said knob and piston.

Valve 16 s actuated to close by the spring 18. Said valve -cylinder is provided with ,an exhaust port 20.

Valve chamber 15 is connected by hose 21, with air tank 22, (see Fig. 2,) which latter is supplied with air, pumped under pres sure, through hose 23, by the Iair pump 24, whlch may be driven by a windmill 24', as seen in Fig. 1; or the sanie may be driven by a clutch connection with the obscured portionof engine shaft 25; and since the structural detai-ls of said pump form no part of this invenbtion, thel same are neither shown nor described,

i The foregoing described parts form pneumatic guiding means, whereby 'the aeroplane 6`islaterally guided, thereby` guiding said aeroplane and the thereby carried 'gun 26, into properposition to be discharged. Said gun is rigidly secured on platform 1, and is arranged to point downward. Referringto Fig. 7 ,the inwardly projecting rifles 26" are formed in the usual spirals on the inner surface of gun 2 6, which is provided with the removable breech block 26. )Said gun is also provided with two diametrically opposite air inlet ports 27, but one of'which is shown. Said ports are each provided with a valve 28,' and since said valves are alike 1n construction and .operat1on`, but one is described.

The free depending end of lever 28 is.

adapted to be held outward by a missile 29, while in. said gun, for keeping said valve open, while air is flowing therepast into gun 26. Y

Port 27 s of such form that said passage yof air impinges upon said valve and closes the same after the upper end vof missile 29,

in being discharged, has passed the lower end of said wheel.'

Said missile has the` preferably soft metalring 29', of lesserbreadth of face, secured on its lower end portion, `which ring is adapted, by the Weight of said projectile, vto have rifle notches cut therein by the upper ends of rifles 2 6, when said ring is lowered thereon, in the placingof said projectile in gun 26.'v The upper endof missile 29 is 5 similarly provided with the metal ring29, of greater'breadth of face, which latter ring is of such degree ofhardness, that it supports said missile, by resting" upon the 11p-1 per ends of rifles 26, and is of such consistency, that when the pressure of air, ad-

mitted into said gun, onto the upper end of saidmissile, forcesothe latter downward, it carrles 'said ringV past the upper ends of rifles 26, thereby cutting rifle` notches in said ring, ,'which releases said rojectile,

which is thereafter discharged romsaid gn, by said pressure of air, upon which the valves 28 are closed,as described, andnormally remain in this position. 'Referring to'vFigs. 6 and "57, the telescope sight 30, is provided with focusingwheel 30. Said sight is pivotally mounted for lateral oscillation inl ring 31, which ring is pivotally mounted for fore and aft oscillation in the sight mountings 32, which latter Vare secured on gun `alatform .1. Said sight isprovided'with the usual vertical line 33 an'd the horizontal line.,34, (see Fig. 5,)

lformed and placed in said telescope osight 1n coarserdial, inl its various adjustments. Worm .38 has its stem portion rotatably mounted in the worm carrier 39, whichis oscillatab'lymounted on said barrel.. The rear end portion of said carrier is actuated to move'upward'by spring 39', for mov- O, and.. s points to the various markings of said The ing worm 38 downward and yieldably holding the same. in close engagement with rack 36.

The thus yieldably held worm carrier and -the there'bycarried worm may be manually lifted, for disengaging said worm from said raclgand permittinor direct manually actuated movement of said sight, either right or left,.for quick adjustment of said sight. The right end of the stem portion of said worm has. hand wheel 40'secured thereon. The

face of saidwheel has the-liner dial -40 formed thereon, the markings o f'which indicate tlfe fractional parts of one revolution The described vparts will 4hereinafter be termedthe wind gage. l

Referring to Figs. 6' and 7, the pinion vshaft 41 isy slida'bly and rotatablymounted in the upper extremities of telescope sight mountings" 32, and has ear 'pinion 42 secured thereon. l Said sha t has thrust collar 43 secured on the right end thereof andhand wheel 44 secured on its opposite end, The upper end of the designated mount1ng32 terminatesin] a bracket 32', which etends i the position shown in Flg. 7

Referring to Figs. 7 vand 11, index wheel 48 is formed on shaft 41 and has index lines 48', on its face. Stud 48" is formed with said index wheel. Said stud is adapted to enter any one of the adjusting holes' 49,", which are formedthrough the notched wheel 49, for holdingsaid notched wheel in variously adjusted rotative relation, to said index wheel. 1

' Notched wheel`49 is slidably and rotatably mounted 'on shaft 41,and is yieldably 'held` against index wheel 48, by spring 49, for yleldably holding said wheels in their .described engagement..

Notched wheel 4 9 has notch 49' formedin its periphery. Do 50 is formed on the upper extremity o trigger 51, which 'is shaped, and ispivotally mounted on the designated one of sight mountings 32. The.

' lower end of said trigger is adapted to hold the free endofl cockstem arm 52, against movement toward the left. 4The lower end of said arm is secured on the right end of cockstem 53,'which is oscillatably mounted in 'said sight mounting 32. The other end 'portion of said cock stenr i similarly mounted-in cock body 54.

.Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, said 000k stem has air port`53' formed therethrough, and

waste port 53'.' formed therein, extending at a right angler-'from said air port through one fthe same rigidity and allow both ends side of'said stem. Cock body 54' has port 54" formed horizontally through both sides thereof, and waste port '54" frmed vertically through its upper side. The` described cock 1s commonly -calledf'a stop and waste cock., and is adapted to have its stem rotated` fromthe position seen in Fig. 4 to the position 'seen in Fig. 3. The right. side of said cock Ibody' is connected with tank 22, by 'hose 55, (s ee also Fig. 2,) while the left side of said cock body is connected withthe bifur- '.'cated gun,passa ge 56, the bifurcations ofY which extend therefrom into ports27, seen in Fig. 7 Cock actuating spring 52', as seen and has onel of itsyends connected with arm 52, while itsother end rests upon gun plat' form 1 Said spring is' adapted to move the free end of said arm toward the `left from the lower end of trigger 5 1, to the position in Figs.- 6 and 7 g `is mounted on cock stemf53f shown, for opening communication between tank 22 and the up er end of gun 26. The latch bolt 52" is s idably mounted in supports n32.

Th left end of said bolt is adapted to be slid into the path of travel of arm 52, for holding the same against the action of spring 52'. The previously described parts form automatical y operated gun discharging means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, gun platform 1 has 'shaft support 57 connected therewith and depending therefrom. The lower end of fly wheel shaft 58 is rotatably mounted in said support, while its .upper end is similarly supported in the central partv ofthe upperportion of gun platform 1. The upon its upper surface. Said {1y-wheels are oppositely rotated by the hereinafter described electric mttor. .The rotations of said iiywlieels are synchronized b pinion 62 which is rotatafily mounted .on

pinion shaft 62', the ends of which shaft are securely :mounted in gun platform 1, but one end of which-is shown in Fig. 6. Said shaft has opening'62" formed through the central #portion thereof, through which the upper end portionof shaft 58 extends.

Said pinion shaft is thus formed to give shaft to besupported.

Fiesld 63 of the electric 'motor is secured on the idle gear of said .the lower end ortion of' sleeve 60. Said.

field is'provide with the two collector rings 64 and 64. lSaid rings'are connected with the unshown windings of. said field, and are respectively provided withl brushes 65 and '65', which are connected with dynamo 66, slee Fig. 1,) -by lead wires 67 and 67.

mature 68 is secured on theilower end' rovided with segmental co provided with rushes 7 0 and 70', whichV are respectively connected withT lead wires 67 and 67', by brushwires 71 and 71', said connections being not shown.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that the described electric motor is shunt connected with dynamo 66, and that said field and armature are mounted for rotation portion of s@ 58, and is lio utator 69, w ich latter is in opposite directions. Said motor is thus purpose of recessional e. The oppositelg rotated iywvheels 59 and 61, form the prime elements of the gyro- Sition indicated in 7, and thereafter scope, in which said lyfwheels counteract primes said projectile with the usual fuleach oth'ers'y precessional force.

Since the structural details of the electric motor form no part of this invention, further than have been described, said details are neither shown nor described.

It will be seen in Figs. 1 and 6, that said motor and shaft support 57, act as a pendulum, depending lfrom the therewith connected gun platform 1, and it will be understoodl that said pendulum, by the gravity thereof, would return said platform to level position,'should the same become tilted from any cause. v A

It will be further understood, that the gyroscopic force of Afly-wheels 59 and 61, which are rotated at a high speed, would so rigidly maintain said gun platform in its level position, that great force would be required to perceptibly tilt the same. I thus provide a stabilized gun platform, upon which gun 26 is practically, at all times held in a true vertical position, with its muzzle end pointing downward.

In operation with` the parts in the posi` tion seen in Figs. 1, and 6, the gun 'pointer 72 and pilot 74 keep a sharp look-out for a.

target, such as a submarine boat, a warehouse, or other object. This lookout is maintained, with the assistance of the usually used field glasses, not shown.

' Said gun pointer determines his height from'the earths surface, by looking at the mlnate primer, not shown. He then replaces breech block 26.

Said gun pointer thenjmakes the previously mentioned calculations, and sets his wind gage and automatic gun discharging mechanism, in accordance therewith.

Said gun pointer then grasps hand wheel in register with `the end portion .of dog` 50, for preventing said dog from entering notch 49.

Said gun pointer then moves latch bolt 52 toward the right, thereby releasing the fr/ee end of lever 5l, Whichmoves dog 50` ,against said index wheel. Y

Further counter-clockwise rotation of hand wheel 44, oscillates telescope sight 30,

'thereby enabling said gun pointer to there` through see the.surface of the earth, at a point, far in advance of aeroplane 6.

Pilot .74 releases his hand operated barometer 7 3. It will be understood saidv mechanism, (not shown,) when the targun pointer is also provided with the usual get 76 (see Fig. 5,) comes into View instruments, such as a speedometer, compass, through the sight 30, ysaid mechanism being and the like. -Said gun pointer consults the usual lateral steering devices now used saidinstruments in the making of the regu-y on aeroplanes. The gun pointer 72, now

lar gun-pointers calculations, by which he laterally steers the aeroplane 6 by manu-` set's the previously described wind gage, and ally operating the previously described the automatic gun discharging mechanism. pneumatic steering mechanism, w1th hls Pilot 74 is provided with sighting rods 75 .and 7 5, secured vertically on the upper surface of the front end plane 6.

When either the pilot or thel gun pointer sees a desirable target, he informs the other party. Said pilot heads Vsaid aeroplane directly Vtoward va point in the air, above said target, approximately, guiding the aeroplane by keeping. said sighting rods in alinement with'said target.

portion of the aeroright hand. He thus directs said aeroplane in 'such manner that the vertical line 33 is kept in alinement with the center of target 76, while with the other hand, he rotates hand wheel 44,`clockwise; thereby bringing and thereafter keeping horizontal line 34, also in alinement with the center of target 76, as seen in Fig. 5.

Said gun pointer maintains said alinement until degree segment l47 is carried past shoulder 41,upon,\which, spring 45 moves l tion, by sliding the left end of latch bolt'52 At this juncture, with the valves 28 in shaft 41, and the thereon carried hand their previously described normal position, wheel '44, from theirl descrlbed positlon, to gullpOiIltI'. 72 with one hand moves the free the4 right, to the position shown.; end of cock lever 52, (see Fig. 6,) toward This lateral movement of sald parts, notithe right, and locks the same'in cocked posi vfies said gun pointer, that the gun dischargingpoint has been closely approached. l-Ie in front of it, thereby latching cock stem 53M thereupon redoubles his c are 1n mamtalnin closed position, las seen in Fig. 4. He ing said alinements of 'his slght. wlth the then removes the breech block 26', from over center of target 76. Thel previously dethe breech of gun 26; then takes a projectile scribed lateral movementof the shaft 41,

29 from. an unshown adj cent ma .azine, carries index wheel from the end of dogl50, and places thel same' in said gun, in t Ae pol` which dog 1s thus liberated'for entry mto movement moves the lower end of said trigger from engagement with the free end of cock stem arm 52, which, by the action of 'spring 52', is moved from the lower endif said trigger to the position lshown in" Fig. 6. This movement of said arm, rotates cock stem 53, from the positionseen in. Fig. 4, to the position seen in Fig. 3, thereby admitting air under-pressure from tank-22,

through hose 55, cock 54, gun passages 56,

and ports n'27, into gun 26.

Said pressure of air moves projectile 29, downward, discharging the same from said gun, onto target 76.

After saidprojectile passes the lower ends of levers 28', the'inertla of said levers and valves 28, retard their inward movement,

which movement is caused byimpingement of air in passing said valves, which ulti- This retardation until immediately after said projectile has left gun 26. This action of said valves insures active pressure upon missile 29 throughout its travel in said gun, and also conserves the air in tank 22. 1

While I`have shown and described the gun in the foregoing manner, and air inlets for discharging a missile therefrom byfpressure of air, it is evident that the gun 26 and its discharging mechanism, could be s'o modifiedas to adapt the same for using, a charge of explosive matter for propelllng the projectile, instead of using air, without departing from the spirit of my invention which I reserve the rlght to do. Y

One of the variously modified forms in which said gunY and its discharging mecha-I nism could be Iliade, is illustrated .in'Fig.

- 10, in which the oscillatably mounted trigger,51, (see Fig. 6,) normally holds arm 77, (see Fig.' 10,) sga1nst the action of spring 3 79. Said arm is secured on theV oscillatably no part of this invention theyA are full shown nor described.

mounted shaft78, and has gun hammer 8O formed therewith. The free end portion of` said hammer is adapted to strike the firing '-pin 81, which is slidably mounted in `breech block 82 of the recoil gun 83. Since guns of the recoil type are well known, and since the structural detailsof said recoil gun form aving fully described -my invention,

vwhat I claim as'new and desire to secure by 1. The combination with the frame of an aeroplane of agyroscopically stabilized gun plat orn supported by said frame; aeroplane guiding means mounted on said platlmounted on said neither form whereby said aeroplane is guided; a A

gun mounted on said'- platform said gun be mg adapted to have a misslle. downwardly discharged therefrom; gun sighting means oscillatably mounted oh said platform for sighting said gun; spring actuated n discharging means for discharging said gun; discharge holding means whereby said gun discharging means is held against the action of said spring; and. automatic releasing means operated by said sighting means for releasing said holding means when said sighting means has-been oscillated to a predetermined point.

2. The combination with an aeroplane frame of aA gyroscopically stabilized gun platform supported by said frame; a gun mounted on said platform for projecting a missile against a target; sighting means mounted on said platform for laterally sighting said gun; and guiding means controlled from said platform whereby said aeroplane is laterally and holding said sightmg means in alinement with said target. l

3. The combination with the frame of an aeroplane of a gyroscopically stabilized gun platform supported by said frame; a gun platform for downwardly projecting a missl e against a target therebelow; sighting means for sighting'said lgun saidsighting means being mounted on said platform for both'lateral and longitudinal oscillation; a manually operated wind gage whereby said sighting means is 'larally oscillated to compensate for the lateral"ac tionof wind on said missile while it is in Hight; power operated guiding means` whereby said aeroplane is laterallyv guided for lateral alinement of said sighting means with said target; manually operated controlling means'whereby lsaid lateral guiding means is .controlledl from said platform; manually operated oscillating means whereby said sighting' means is longitudinally oscillated for longitudinal alinement of said sighting means with1 said target;.spri1 ig4 actuated gun discharging lmeans for discharging said gun; holding means .whereby saidpdischarging means is held against the vaction of its said spring; and releasing -means whereby s 'd holding means is automatically release when said sighting means lll has been longitudinally oscillated to a predetermined point. 2

4. In a gunpointing andgun discharging mechanism, combined, the combination with a portably mountedfgun and means for moving said mountings and the thereon carried gn; of gun sightingmeans mounted with said gun, said sighting means being mounted for oscillation through a Vertical plane; manually operated oscillating means. whereby said sighting ymeans is oscillated; limiting means wherebysaid oscillation is limitl said-oscillating means reaches the set limit' cally energizedA rotating means whereby said' ed; limit setting meansl whereby said limit y 1ng` means is set. for limiting said oscillation at a predetermined point; spring actuated gun discharging, means; holding means whereby said actuating means is held against the actionof its spring; and releasingmeans whereby said holding means is released when ofits oscillation.

5, The combination with the frame of an aeroplane of a gun platform oscillatably mounted thereo'm for free oscillation both laterally and longitudinally, of a gyroscopic fly-wheel for stabilizing said platform in a horizontal position by rotation of said ily- Wheel through a horizontal plane; 4electrifly-'wheel is rotated; electricenergy genermeans supported by said platform 'throughv ing such that theyl together ating means supported by said aeroplane frame for enefgizing said rotating means'; power drivenrotating means whereby said generating means is driven; and a pendulum for yieldably holding said platform in its horizontal position.

6. The combination with a gun` platform mounted on an object for both lateral and longitudinal oscillation; ofa gyroscop-ic flywheel adapted to stabilize said-platform in a horizontal position by rotation of said fly-c wheel through a horizontal vplane; a shaft for said fly-wheel; shaft mounting means connected with said platform in whiclf said shaft is rotatably mounted, said shaft being,

extended from said platform to a'point con, siderably therebelow; and an electric motor connected with the lower end portion of said lshaft for rotating :the latter, the gravity 1 of said motorfshaft, and mounting means be adapted to act as a pendulum foryieldabl holding said platform. in a level position. f -7. The combinationwith a gun platform and an aeroplane, of mounting means whereby said platform is so mounted in 'a level position on said aeroplane as to permit'free lat'- eral and longitudinal oscillatipn of said aeroplane without moving said platform4 from its level position; yieldable holding means whereby said ,platform is yieldably held in its hoi'izontalposition; a gun mounted on i sald platform for downwardly projecting a missile on a target therebelow; sighting which said target is sighted; and aeroplane guiding means whereby said aeroplane is 5B ing means is carried; a palr of gyroscopic fly-Wheels supported by said platform the axis of one of said iy-wheels passing through the aXis of the otherone of said flywheels; rotating means whereby said flywh-eels are'rotated in opposite directions for stabilizing said 'platform` and the thereon l. mounted gun; synchronizing means whereby i the rotations of saidfly-wheels are synchro l' nized .and yieldable holding means whereby said platform and the thereon mounted gun are 'yieldably held in their respective positions.

9. In combination with a set of gimbal rings adapted to be mounted on an aeroplane; a latform adapted to have a gun and gun sig Pting means mounted thereon said platform being mounted on the inner one of said sect of gimbal rings; shaft mounting means connected withsaid platform and de- .pending therefrom; a shaft having its upper 'end rotatably m'ounted in said platform and.

its lower end similarly mounted in said shaft mounting means; a gyroscopic fly-wheel secured on the upper end portion of said shaft; v

a sleeve rotatably -mounted on'said shaft; another gyroscopic fly-wheel secured on' the upper' en d Iportion of Said sleeve; a field of an yelectrlc motor secured on the lower end portion of said sleeve; an armature 0f said Velectric motor secured on the lower end portion of said shaft adjacent to said field; electric energizing means whereby said field and' .armature are energized; and synchronizing means whereby the rotations of said iiywheels and the therewith connected .field and armature a In testim in the pren synchronized. y whereof I aifx my signature e of two witnesses. f j GEORGE W. HINTION. Witnesses: A A

' ROBERT R. Pomar, EDWIN C. RENAUD. 

